Wayne I suspect it has to do with alignment. Many model boats have motors and prop shafts that are slightly out of alignment and benefit from a universal joint type connector that allows for this.Stepper motors and their loads are usually build to tight specs where the drive and load are in absolute alignment.I inherited a box full of similar couplers but with heavy springs in the middle (where yours have slots). The previous owner used to build his own equipment and was into mechanics and lathe work as well as electrics and model boats.If you can get the drive train in line I believe they should work. If you are considering using on your model a further post on the outcome would be great.Dave

Hello, These couplings are used in Radio equipment, but only usually found at Amateur Radio Rally's, and with 1/4" plain holes with grub screws, except i beleive Prop Shop used to sell them in various hole/shaft sizes, don't know about buying new, possible that RS Components have them, or such like stores. Good Luck....Muddy....

They tend to work OK on angularity, but not actual misalignment.I'm happy with slot and pin! Or those wonderful Taycol ones with two sections that have a rough square shape bashed into the ends, then a square stick in between. They help the Taycol famous noise which I love. Who wants silence anyway?

I have that funny square stick coupling with my Taycol Super Marine. But was going to use a rubber coupling, Which is best. I plan to put this motor in either my Sea Queen or possibly my 46" Crash Tender. Not sure which though. As I have purchased a nice brushless motor and speed controller to go with it. I am unsure though if it will push the boat fast enough. I have tried the Taycol with a electronic speed controller on the bench and it seem's to work's OK but I have seen some say that they interfere with the speed electronic controllers. Any advice on this please.

Boatshed, I would say the Taycol would suit the Sea Queen better as it's more of a cruiser. The Fire Boat needs some ooomph to get it on the step, as they say. If you have a brushless, use it in the big Crash Tender.The beauty of the Taycol coupling is that it simply works. It cannot NOT work. Been in my Crash Tender for 53 years, doesn't look even slightly worn! As to electronics, I just don't trust ESCs, whoever makes 'em and with Taycols you need somebody who understands lecktrickery, which ain't me, but Doug's an electrical man. You can see him trailing wires when he goes for a stroll.I have bought some supression condensors, but no idea where to put 'em!

BoatshedUse whatever you want as a coupling with the Taycol. Its so inefficient it will make little difference. They are major sources of interference but capacitors and careful screening will allow them to work with modern RC and ESC's. If you use metal to metal couplings they can cause interference.Your brushless will require a good well engineered modern type coupling with the motor and shaft in alignment and solidly mounted.I use a 42xx brushless in my Sea Queen and it is fast. Has your Crash Tender two props? If not the Super Marine should be OK. I would use a nice 3 cell LiPo to make up for the lump of lead that is the Taycol. A brushed 800 would be suitable for either model.If you want reverse you need to modify and add a bridge rectifier. Doug (RNin Munich) is converting his Taycol so perhaps he will post a blog.Good luck with the buildDave

Isn't it funny how I used my Crash Tender 53 years ago with 27 meg R/C and never ever had any interference problems. Now the fashion victims all want those ugly little cans from Mabuchi or brushless, suddenly the lovely old Taycols are unusable. Rubbish.

If modern R/C is that fussy we haven't moved on at all. Maybe because I have an unbroken link to the Taycol and the Crash Tender I see no reason to just give in and use modern stuff I detest.

I have never been a fashion victim and I am not starting now.

I think this and any other model boats forum and I have reached the limits to our mutual usefulness. I'm off to do things my way. Where I've had help, thanks. Otherwise?............

Hi Boatshed, I'm converting a Taycol Target but the principle is the same with Supermarine. Attached are the original Taycol diagrams for the Supermarine wiring, plus a wiring graphic, with circuit, of the mods for reversing it!You will need a bridge rectifier, BR, (or 4 single power diodes, see attached diagram) rated for at least 5 or 6 Amps. Essentially the DC outputs of the rectifier (+ & -) got to the brushes. The two AC connections (~ x2) go the the field coil. (I'm not yet convinced that this is the best way round!) Also, put two 4Amp fuses in series with the field coil and one brush connection.For suppression try a 0.1 microfarad non-polarised ceramic capacitor across the brush terminals. Otherwise the pyrotechnics at high revs are quite spectacular 😉I assume that the ESC just controlled the speed without reversing?Good luck, let us know how you get on. Cheers Doug 😎PS I'm about to test my reversing board, wish me luck, more later. 😁

@ onetenor; did you click on the pics and download? Do that and they'll appear full size in your usual pic viewer.I use Irfan View, not the MSoft crap.See also my Sea Scout blog for test results. The Target works perfectly with a brushed ESC with + & - from the bridge connected to the brushes. The two ~ outputs connected to the field coil. You will need to modify the links on the motor connectors as per diagram for the Supermarine. Bon chance.I'm now going to celebrate with a wee dram o 17 year Lagavulin 😉Good night from Munich, cheers 😎

Hi Doug, Many thanks for your advice on the Taycol wiring.The ESC I am using is for reversing as well. I am not too good on the electrics and reading the electrical diagrams. But the centre diagram you have posted seems straight forward to me. I also have a Taycol Double Special that I will be using. Will your centre wiring diagram be the same for use with the Double Special. Also would it matter if a 10amp Bridge Rectifier was used and on a quick search all I can find is at Maplins is a Resin-Dipped Ceramic 100pF Capacitor would this be sufficient. Tom.

Hi TomThere is a Taycol site that may help you with your Taycol motorshttp://taycol.tk/wiring.htmlThere are slight differences in the different motors and your Double Special falls into this category. The diagrams are clear and you should be able to modify OK.There is a special page for the Taycols with reversing coils such as the Double Special. This uses the Bridge rectifier without any modification to the motor. For your 10 amp bridge rectifier this would be the best option as it will effectively double it to 20 amps. 25 amp are recommended.The caps you have are not of the right value you need 0.1 uf (Mfd) or 100000 pF (Mmfd). You may also see them as 100nF. Ceramic are the type you need.http://www.justradios.com/uFnFpF.htmlThe above is a useful chart of the different capacitor values most often quoted in electronic diagrams.Doug has certainly shown the way and if it encourages others to ressurect and modify their Taycols all to the good.Good luck with the modificationDave

This motor has a reversing coil which you will need to disconnect and isolate. The wiring is then changed to link the two field coils together (as on my old two-coil Target), then same procedure as with my Target, - see attached instruction sheet for the Double.BTW; on further testing (to find out why nothing moved on the first attempt) I found that (as it should be) you can attach the + and - from the bridge to either the brushes or the field coil, the two ~ (AC input) pins of the bridge vice versa. Musta dun summat daft on my first try. Not the first time, or the last I suspect. 😉 Don't run too fast or too long in reverse the comm and brushes don't like it!

Yep, that's the page I found, amongst others.I'm not so sure that you can reverse the Double without mods. The reversing coil needs to be disconnected and isolated, then you can use this 'freed' post to connect the ESC and the field coil. Haven't seen one in the flesh so I'm open to correction if someone's done it differently. 😎

PS re Bridge rectifier-Main thing is it can handle the stall current of your motor.Don't know what this is for the Double. With my Target it was less than 3A so I used a 4A rectifier. Don't forget the fuses to protect field and armature coils!! 😎

Hmm! Pondering this some more you CAN NOT use the rectifier trick to connect to an ESC without modifying the motor wiring! In the standard 'out of the box' state the field coils and brushes / armature are all in series, with the armature in the middle of the split field coil, as on my Target. Hence only two connections for the battery.To connect the ESC via the bridge you have to separate the field coils from the armature. Otherwise you can't reverse the motor. Hence the motor wiring is changed to link the two field coils in series and isolate them from the brushes. See step 3 in the instructions. Forget the reverse coil, just disconnect it and insulate the end.Now you have four connection points: two for the field coil and two for the brushes. Sooooooo as before; + and - from the bridge to either field or brushes, the two ~ pins from the bridge vice versa! which way round you do it is free choice. Cheers Doug 😎

Hi Doug, the motor already has a capacitor on it, the markings on it are 0.1 - 100 WIMA FKS. I assume that that is sufficient. The box says only needs a single pole switch or relay for reversing. I will just need to sort out wiring up the relay.

OK. You can do that just for reversing, but no speed control without the ESC. Also relay contacts have an irritating habit of arcing and burning when used for high currents. More sparks! Your choice but I find the bridge solution is more elegant, more compact and probably more reliable. You'll need a second channel to trigger the relay, could get exciting if you're on full ahead at the time! Or do you intend to use the negative swing of the ESC output to switch it?Don't forget the diode across the relay coil to kill the induced voltage!Let us know what you decide and how it goes. I know which way I would go. Cheers 😎

Hi DougSorry but you are mistaken. Later Taycols such as the Double Special had a separate reverse winding that provided a slower speed in reverse when selected. There are two connections one for forward and one for reverse. You can use a relay or double way switch to alter the contact. A modern solution is to use a bridge rectifier as an electronic switch.I have one and have done the conversion and it works.Current is high and 25 amp capacity is recommended for the Double Special.Please have a look athttp://taycol.tk/Rectifier.htmlThere is a diagram showing the separate coils and how to connect the rectifier.A fuse is a must as you have advised and for reasons explained in the article.I do agree your solution will work but I would suggest this alternative works using the Taycol as designed and avoids any disconnection of coils.Whatever method is used the increased current will require the bridge rectifier to be mounted on a heat sink. Hope this clarifies and helps you understand these fascinating motors in all their variationsDave

Hi Again, I am even more confused now, I have never been good with the electrics, this is why up to now any electric boat I have had has been either ready built, or standard 580 style motor with a standard speed controller. Those have been easy the same as R/C is easy to fit. I might just go down the road of motor fitted and no reversing. After all all the ic powered boats I have had have never had reverse on them.

Hi Dave, I know about the reversing coil, reverse wound (natch) and fewer turns so motor is slower. Sure you can switch that, mechanically or electronically but is the ESC still the trigger for reverse?😎

So Boatshed, don't give up! The solution Dave mentions is very elegant nd simple 👍 Go to this page http://taycol.tk/Rectifier.html as Dave suggests, and follow the instructions for 'using single diodes'. Or the bridge version if you can't get the diodes easily. circuits attached as on above mentioned page. Cheers Doug 😎

No apologies required. I need all the help I can get, as I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to the electrics and capacitors and relays etc. I am taking in as much as I can but lots of it are way over my head. I have already had it running off of an ESC but with no reversing. Thanks TOM.

Hi SonarI often use this type of coupling. Easy to turn up a piece of brass to suit the shaft, drill a couple of threaded holes for ss lock grub screws or thread to suit the prop shaft.I have used silicon exhaust tubing but car heater tube is just as good. The locking bits of brass are essential to prevent slippage.I have even used the slotted type brass couplings from universal joints as they are available in a variety of bores and threads.Make for very strong and smooth coupling with no noise.Dave